Episode #113: Mamoru is confronted by Sailors Uranus, Neptune & Pluto, who delcare that the other Sailors are "a nuisance" and would just get in there way, thus establishing the old status quo without the necessary "we're going to take the talismans, even if it kills people!" stuff. Meanwhile, Chibi-Usa & Usagi go to Hotaru's home, meeting the Professor and his assistant... "Kaori"? Yes, it's KAOLINITE, back again after falling off the Tokyo Tower. Mimete hunts down some manga author she likes, while the girls head over there for autographs, Hotaru being amused by the arguments between the Usagis. Pretty quickly, the Oni Daimon (themed around a manga editor, because most of the writers are probably familiar with the deadline-spouting type) is defeated, but not before Uranus is all "UGH SAILOR MOON GO AWAY!". A pretty minor "filler" episode, but it establishes that Kaolinite is definitely back, and Usagi meets Hotaru, who is once again established as weak and sickly.

Episode #114: Wow, ANOTHER Minako episode? I'm thinking the directors hit on an idea they liked. She & Mimete become obsessed with an idol singer, joining his flock of "fangirls" (called "groupies" in the original Japanese, but in both versions it's suggested they don't really "do anything" with the idols- they just like being around them). When Minako discovers that "Arajin" is holding tryouts to be his costar in a movie, she's all "HAHA I DON'T CARE ABOUT IDOLS" while writing the time down in her journal. Mimete of course targets him, and when the Professor is all "are you just targetting famous people?", she actually BURSTS INTO TEARS, then beautifully does the "pause to see if he's sympathetic yet" thing and gets him to back down.

In another great bit, Mina & Mimete have a "Showdown Music" stand-off at the thing, apparently recognizing each other...'s Arajin t-shirts, which are the older "collector's item" ones, marking them as "True Fans". They actually CHEER for each other, and both make the final round (even though Mimete keeps getting nervous and freezing on stage). Hilariously, Mimete then declares that she's QUITTING the Death Busters to become an idol and be with her Arajin, announcing that "I was never cut out for villainy anyway" as the camera zooms in over a memorial locker for the Death Buster she murdered not three episodes earlier. Have I mentioned that Mimete is awesome lately? Because Mimete is awesome.

When Minako falls just short, and her disappointment is stunted by Arajin, who confesses that "your memories of me will fade", as idol worship always does- and that girls will drop following celebrities once they find TRUE love. Minako is of course even MORE entranced by this. Mimete then falls just short as well, and IMMEDIATELY goes "AHAHAHAHAAHH THIS WAS ALL MY PLAN!" to disguise her obvious heartbreak, whipping out her "Charm Buster" attack to wipe out an auditorium full of people. But then Sailor Moon THROWS HER FRIGGING TIARA to disarm her, which is the first time I've seen that attack in like two seasons! Holy crap! She immediately uses her "Crisis Make-Up", and when the Daimon forgets the lyrics to her song, she's distracted enough to be one-shotted. Seriously- they spent so much time on the plot that the Daimon never used her attacks!

Fantastic episode, though. Minako is actually relatively sane for once (her weirdest thing is hiding fangirling from the others), and Mimete is adorably crazy and mercurial.

Episode #115: Chibi-Usa is rebuffed by Kaori after going to Hotaru's house, but an angry Hotaru disobeys her advice and runs out to meet her new friend... and promptly passes out. She ends up at Ami's mother's hospital (one of VERY few times we hear about her), experiencing flashbacks to her past, like apparently killing her own goldfish and injuring another boy at school, but being unable to remember either thing. It's REALLY creepy when combined with the slow music, rapid cuts to her father's weird glasses, and her cries that "I feel like there's another person inside of me!". Little Hotaru desperately crying because she doesn't have any friends is SO ridiculously endearing that it's no wonder there's a theory that her last name ("Tomoe") gave the "Moe" term its name.

The Daimon makes a fuss, but is abandoned by Mimete and goes tearing around once a ton of Sailors show up. Only she ends up charging a seizing-up Hotaru, and she seems doomed! Until she lights up like a demon from hell, her eyes glow with evil energy, and she friggin' one-offs the monster like she's nothing. Sailor Moon finishes it, but everyone's stunned by what they've seen. Hotaru confesses that she's afraid she'll hurt her new friend, and tells Chibi-Usa they shouldn't meet any longer- a point Uranus concurs with. And then, in a weird bit, Uranus de-powers back to normal, revealing... well, her bare ass. I mean, it's RIGHT THERE. No "shining light bodies" or anything- she's just naked!

A pretty freaky episode. Oddly, both this one and the last one show the Daimons doing essentially nothing in combat. The "Episode of the Week" format is straining under the weight of all the new characters they have to introduce. Which might be for the best, but it begs the question of... what's the point?

(First Apperance: Hotaru's Super-Damage Powers)

(Monster Powers: Skipping Rope at High Speeds- Extra Damage if it ever hit, I guess)

Episode #116: Kind of a "filler" one- Chibi-Usa, Usagi & Hotaru disregard ideas that they shouldn't hang out, and so they come along with Mamoru to some greenhouse. Hotaru is saddened when she sees the expert botanist with his large family, recalling a mother & father many years ago, and Mimete goes through a funny thing where the boring botanist is ignored in favor of Mamoru, to whom she is attracted. Mamo tries to let her down easy when she asks to "speak in private", and then points out the absurd- "I'm here with my future wife and daughter!" before getting nervous and fleeing! The Flower Daimon attacks, Hotaru blasts it with energy, and Sailor Moon defeats it. Uranus, Neptune & Pluto look on, worried.

The new "status quo" is rather apparent, here, as the writers & directors have suddenly stopped the Uranus/Neptune train dead in its tracks and ignore it in favor of them staring from the sidelines, observing and judging things. Meanwhile, it's now all about Hotaru, as the second third of the season now has to focus on this all-new girl who is clearly the "Messiah of Silence".

It's honestly a smart move, as you need to establish these new characters, introducing them properly to the fans. Because with the Sailors having as much characterization as they've had (over 100+ episodes), you can't just toss ANYONE into the mix and have them become popular. Though of course, that's pretty much Pluto's deal, and it's why she's the least popular.

Episode #117: Mamoru narrates a bit on the Silver Millennium period, in which the three Outer Sailors guarded everyone from threats outside the solar system. And their base was on a desolate planet, which is one of those things they always gloss over, yet is totally interesting- like, we never even SEE their past lives! Uranus comments on how they've been granted powers "far beyond" those of the other Sailors, and the others theorize this is why the "Outer Senshi" (as the sub-fans called them back in the day) never hang out with the Inners. Sailor Pluto calls the current threat, "the greatest danger facing the Solar System", so great that she left her post in the space between time.

Meanwhile, Mimete and the other three Witches are playing TWISTER, complete with long, lingering shots of Mimete's bare legs from various angles... that's alright by me. Then when the Professor sends her on her mission, HE takes over her spot- god these villains are goofy.

Anyways, Hotaru becomes obsessed with an athlete who was once sickly like herself- she prepares to send him a letter, but Kaori (who is REALLY ramping up the casual cruelty- she's basically like the bitch from The Rescuers here, taunting Hotaru at every turn) points out that she'll never have the courage to SEND it. Hotaru's admiration catches the interest of the Usagis, who OF COURSE interfere, dragging her along to meet this high-jumper. They interact only briefly before a Daimon Attack (Hotaru actually does chicken out and is too shy to give him the letter), Hotaru faints... and then her eyes glow red and the Daimon gets blasted. She and the jumper, Hayase, meet up and share like two lines of dialogue as the episode ends, as he feels she's "the only person" who fully understands his backstory.

Sailor Moon "S" is weird, in that you can absolutely read what the writers and directors were thinking the entire time.
Like, they fell in LOVE with Uranus & Neptune. Absolutely obsessed with them. But they strained so hard to keep them distant from the other Sailors (because the timeline was decompressed).

Pluto and Tuxedo Mask really got nothing. Eudial was a villain with zero character, while somebody was definitely in love with Mimete. But every time something happened in the manga, they had to rev things up for a new plot thread.
And now there's seven episodes left and they have a ton of villains left to introduce .

Episode #118: Now this is a strange one- Mimete buggers up the Professor's Daimon-creating process, creating a massive dimensional cascade that freezes the house out of our dimension! Hotaru & Chibi-Usa are trapped inside, so the Sailors have to use the Sailor Teleport to break in, right in front of the shocked Professor (who at first fears they've figured out his secret identity). Hotaru pleads with them to only save Chibi-Usa if they can only save one of them; saying "I shouldn't have been born in the first place", which the Sailors immediately refuse. Mars even adds "It would break Chibi-Usa's heart to hear you say that!". Ultimately, it's a Daimon in the basement controlling everything.

The Daimon says they must play her in games of chance & skill in order to win their freedom... but of course, she CHEATS, changing the number on Jupiter during roulette, pulling a string under Mars' attempt at jenga, and more, freezing the girls in giant playing cards. Chibi-Usa & Hotaru challenge her to "Old Maid" in a callback to the episode's opening (where Hotaru mourns her unluckiness), and this actually leads to Hotaru pulling the winning card! The villain screams... but goes back on her word. Chibi-Usa transforms after Hotaru faints, but the Pink Sugar Heart Attack fizzles out... until it suddenly pops back up, and the villain's dodging results in Sailor Moon's card-prison being shattered, and she immediately hits the Rainbow Moon Heartache to save the day.

Haruka is all "maybe it's for the best if they DON'T come back!", because she's all Anti-Hotaru, and is chided by Michiru for her cruelty. In the end, though, she's happy they made it back, and Michiru teases that Haruka actually has more faith in Sailor Moon than a lot of people.

Episode #119: Rei & Michiru are both having clearer-than-ever portents of doom, this time making it clear that Hotaru is the Messiah of Silence. Michiru recognizes her weapon- The SILENCE GLAIVE- the weapon of the Guardian of the "Planet of Destruction", which makes them think this could be hopeless. The fact that they recognize "The Scythe of Silence", yet apparently only now made the connection between that and "The Silence" is pretty funny.

So the girls all head to the planetarium for the usual Filler stuff, and the scantily-clad (SERIOUSLY- "stars over the nipples" is most of what she's got on!) Daimon fights them using a cool star-shaped energy blast that leaves similar-shaped holes in everything. The Sailors fight her (Tuxedo Mask even shows up- a rarity these days), but then... her Blasts awaken HOTARU, whose forehead glows with the goddamn symbol of Saturn, making it absolutely clear that this is Sailor Saturn, who is apparently much-feared. And she stuns the Daimon with a single shot and an EVIL SMIRK, then Sailor Moon finishes it. And then Sailors Uranus, Neptune & Pluto fire their attacks AT HOTARU, combining them into a super-attack that Sailor Moon has to help them dodge. And THAT'S why these Sailors refused to ally with the younger ones- they don't think they have what it takes to murder Hotaru before Saturn can fully awaken! The Inner Sailors plead for leniency, but even Pluto & Neptune are self-assured that things must be this way.

Hotaru, unconscious, simply teleports away into bed (and a chuckling Kaolinite oversees this), while the Professor chats with an unseen master (called "Pharaoh 90" in the dub, but his name is unmentioned in the subtitles).

Episode #120: Seven episodes left, and we get some backstory about the mysterious school (Mugen Academy), visited by Haruka, Michiur AND Hotaru! This all-important bit of backstory is of course only revealed now- it's founded by Professor Tomoe himself! Methinks the manga only JUST revealed this, or else the writers probably would've mentioned it before. Pluto finally gives us some of this exposition, and points out that the necessity of Hotaru/Saturn's death is why the Outer Sailors didn't want the Inners getting involved- basically, once again, it's a "you don't have what it takes to kill people" thing.

Mimete's plan is delayed by the Professor, much to her disappointment... and we see another Witch. Uh-oh- they only introduce one when the last is about to croak. Mimete decides to trick Tellu into calling off her mission by mimicking the Professor, then she goes off on her own to prove herself one last time. Meanwhile, we get the REAL Origin Story of the villains- Professor Tomoe's experiment drew forth a sentient galaxy from an alternate universe, which killed everyone present but himself... including his daughter. Desperate, he made a deal with the entity, who utilized their bodies for its own ends.

The Daimon Fight is actually interesting, because it features Non-Stock Animation versions of Burning Mandala & Sparkling Wide Pressure. The Daimon beats Mars & Jupiter, while Mimete takes out Venus & Mercury- Chibi-Moon & Tuxedo Mask's arrival lets Sailor Moon take out the Daimon, but Mimete uses one of Eudial's old devices to insert herself into the monitors at Mugen Academy, said to amplify her power many times over. She promises to destroy the heroes... but then Tellu arrives. She points out that Eudial never USED the device because of a peculiar drawback, and ignores a DESPERATE Mimete's screams, unplugging the machine and trapping her forever inside the monitor. Mimete's "PLEASE! I DON'T WANT TO DIE IN HERE! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!!" (slightly different dialogue than in the subtitles, which are more just generic pleading) is pretty horrifying. And that's the end for Mimete. She was a lot of fun, but the past few episodes treated her more like filler. Tellu herself will likely be much more short-lived, given the amount of time we have left.

Episode #121: The last one on this DVD starts where the last one left off, and the Inner Sailors plead with the Outers to allow Hotaru to live. This is one of those moments where you really see the aloofness of the Outers, as they're all like "Nah, you're being naiive!" when even SAILOR MARS & JUPITER are pleading in the name of peace. Uranus says some weird thing about "we want to create a different world than you!", which probably makes more sense in the original Japanese.

This episode is, famously, the only appearance of Tellu, the Third Witch, as "General". I remember reading this all the way back in the day, learning about the show for the first time, or looking it up on the Anime Web Turnpike. I was like "wow, the Witches Five were killing each other off? How merciless!", and then read about the "single-episode" Witch, who died the episode after she took control. Tellu has green hair and a "bun-head" hairstyle.

Tellu's method for extracting Pure Hearts? Why, A FAD BASED AROUND A NEW SHOP, OF COURSE!!! I am ASTONISHED by the sheer power of her originality here, you guys. I mean, who would have ever guessed that she would get a bunch of people obsessed with a new fad. Her "Tellu Flowers" boast that they do not require water nor fertilizer to bloom. And OMG, it's a SETSUNAH episode!!! Which has like, never HAPPENED before! Except all she does is pick up the flower, study it using a computer at her home, and then arrive to meet the Usagis, before they all check out the flower shop. The Tellun flowers are stealing Pure Hearts, and Pluto injures herself jumping in the way of an attack meant for "Small Lady", but Usagi wipes out the flowers.

Tellu's all "You'll pay for that!" and creates a Hyper Tellun that seeks out Pure Hearts and then explodes. She brags a bit while leaving, leading to Tuxedo Mask disarming her of the black star that was holding all the Hearts she'd grabbed, which leads to the Hyper Tellun grabbing HER, and though she snares it with her vines, they both disappear in a screaming flash of light! And... that's it for Tellu. I gotta say, her anguished death-screams are MUCH harsher in the original Japanese; she just yells out "Stop!" in English.

Episode #122: And now we get another one-shot villain, in Viluy (pronounced "Vill-YOU-ee"). She has a pretty terrific design, with white hair and a cleavage-baring, light-blue outfit, resembling a lot of "Snow Queen" designs in a way. The weird "doileys" all over her outfit make her stand out, too. And her plan is to lure a ton of students into the "practice exam" room at Mugen Academy, then swipe their Pure Hearts. And then she CALLS OUT KAOLINITE, all "Why don't YOU collect some Pure Hearts, instead of just flirting all the time?". BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITCH.

Ami meets Viluy in her civilian disguise as "the other girl who got a perfect score on the national practice exam", and she brags about how anyone with high marks is allowed to teach at the Academy. Ami, however, is DIGUSTED with the idea, as high marks alone shouldn't cut it- a good instructor has to be able to understand the feelings of even the students who are struggling! Viluy chides her for being "naive" and not sounding like the kind of person who could get a perfect score, then taunts Kaolinite AGAIN, and enacts her plan to get the school's computers to steal Pure Hearts.

Meanwhile, Haruka & Michiru arrive in the basement, finding THE MESSIAH OF SILENCE in her "room of dolls". They plan to attack, but AMI is there for some reason, and basically stands right in the way, refusing to allow harm to come to Hotaru. Haruka gives the same "naive" insult, but then Viluy arrives and attacks with her Mosaic Buster, which eats the targets alive using nano-robots. Mercury actually counters the attack that wipes out the two elder Sailors, but another button press sends the robots at her. Viluy taunts, but then the OTHER Sailors arrive, and the distraction allows Uranus & Neptune to transform, each one blasting Viluy.

She tanks the attacks pretty well, but the Rainbow Moon Heartache breaks her wrist-device... so when she attacks with the Mosaic Buster AGAIN, it TURNS ON HER. As she screams and hits the ground, being devoured by the robots which don't recognize her, Ami chides her prior sentiment that "Science doesn't require feelings", because now those unfeeling robots had turned on her. Viluy thus fades away into nothing, her wristband disintegrating as well. Kaolinite just chuckles that now she's saved the trouble, while Chibi-Usa is comforted by Mamoru & Setsunah (who is becoming a very maternal figure here, and seems more naturally suited to the maturity of Mamoru- something that I believe comes up in the manga but not the anime). And now, the Death Busters know the identities of the Sailors!

In a great ending bit, Haruka & Michiru stand before the Sailors, with Haruka saying "Ami Mizuno... your naivete has allowed the Messiah of Silence to escape. But it also saved us." Michiru adds that for now, they're very grateful to her. This episode was actually REALLY GOOD, breezing by at a good pace, and giving some interesting character bits from Ami, who can often be a bit dull (deliberately-so). Kate "Frankie Stein" Higgins just KILLS IT in this one, doing a really good job making Ami's points sound very sympathetic- her sadness and concern when she points out that "good grades don't necessarily mean you'll make a good INSTRUCTOR..." is pitch-perfect delivery.

Episode #123: With four Witches 5 members gone, it's time for the last one, Cyprine, to take over. Meanwhile, Kaolinite schemes to take the advantage, by scoring the "purest heart there is"- that of Chibi-Usa! Cyprine takes the pure heats of an army of Mugen Academy students, and the Sailors get right to fighting- but Cyprine appears immune to their attacks! And she has a "duplicate"- the red-themed Ptilol! It turns out that the two of them can reverse basically anything, so they make short work of the girls. But then the Sailors use their Limit Breaks... and by that I mean SEASON ONE ATTACKS, BITCHES!!! Bubble Spray! Fire Soul! Moon Tiara Action! And all of that is just a distraction for Jupiter to goddamn TACKLE Cyprine, sending her chasing the most talent of the Sailors. Then Sailor Mars channels the spirit of the Macho Man and hits a FLYING DOUBLE-AXEHANDLE on Ptilol! Damn, too bad she didn't spin her finger around in a circle afterwards.

Mars & Jupiter are being chased down and about to get blasted... at which point Mercury's old "Fog of War" trick causes Cyprine & Ptilol to blast EACH OTHER, resulting in a screaming death for both. Goddamn these girls are good once they get going. Meanwhile, Sailor Chibi-Moon enters Hotaru's home, and is immediately beaten by Kaolinite. Tuxedo Mask & Sailor Pluto, the Back-Up Rescue Squad, arrive to distract her, but are easily avoided and the villainess abducts Chibi-Moon.

The Sailors, including Uranus & Neptune now, find the rift in space holding the hideout for the bad guys, and see Chibi-Usa on a slab, surrounded by a force field and a bunch of hanging bells. That whole "bells creepily ringing every time magic is used" thing is just SO anime. And then THAT GODDAMN CREEPY SINGING STARTS UP, with the "laaaaa laaaaaa... LA LA LA laaa..." as Hotaru powers up into "Messiah of Silence" mode, stealing Chibi-Usa's pure heart. Sailor Moon BEGS Professor Tomoe to spare everyone- "You're Hotaru's father! If you love her...!" "LOVE? What is THAT?"

And of course as soon as she gains power, Hotaru turns from a good child into an evil adult woman (because adult women = evil, if this show's taught me anything). Uranus & Neptune are astonished- "That's not Sailor Saturn!" And indeed, this is the true Messiah of Silence- Mistress 9. She makes a crazy friggin' face as lightning bounds about, and Mercery delivers the exposition to make the viewer understand: "The Death Busters must have placed something inside Hotaru that has just awakened!". Kaolinite is delighted to hear the Professor tell her she's worked hard, but before she can say she loves him... Mistress 9 just casually executes her. "Kaolinite's role is done". Mugen Academy explodes as the Sailors flee.

Mamoru's life force can keep Chibi-Usa alive (in the manga, he'd shown Healing Powers already... here, it's just like an "Oh, their bodies are linked now" like this is just something they figured out how to do), and the Outer Sailors are prepping to kill Mistress 9.